Rapids lose 3-0 at NY in Open Cup play-in

Harrison, NJ - A two-goal performance by John Wolyniec and a second half strike from Conor Chinn lifted the New York Red Bulls to a 3-0 win over the visiting Colorado Rapids at Red Bull Arena Wednesday night in the final MLS qualifying round for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. With the win – New York’s third this season in MLS qualifying – the Red Bulls advanced to the tournament’s third round, where they will play later this summer against a team yet to be determined.

The Red Bulls took the lead in the 11th minute. Sinisa Ubiparipovic skipped by a Colorado defender before finding Irving Garcia on the right wing. Garcia delivered a low cross into the box that Wolyniec redirected past goalkeeper Ian Joyce for his third goal of the tournament.

Later in the interval, Chris Albright played a high cross to the back post and Jeremy Hall nodded it into Joyce’s hands. In the 29th minute, Rapids midfielder Colin Clark got on the end of a deep ball at the back post and it was deflected away by goalkeeper Greg Sutton. Soon after, Hall had another good chance at the left post to head one in, but his attempt went into the side netting.

New York doubled its lead two minutes before the break. Tony Tchani drove into the Rapids’ defensive half and found Wolyniec, who was making a run into the penalty box. Wolyniec was able to get a bit of space and rifled a right-footed shot into the back of the net for his 36th goal for New York in all competitions.

The hosts expanded their lead to 3-0 in the 56th minute. Ubiparipovic had possession and tried to guide a ball towards the top of the Colorado box. Rapids defender Drew Moor failed to clear it and Chinn was able to get free, chipping it over an on-rushing Joyce.

The Rapids’ best chance of the match came 22 minutes later, when a Mehdi Ballouchy free kick curled around the wall, beat Sutton and slammed off the crossbar. Chinn nearly made it 4-0, pushing a shot just past the right post nine minutes from full time. Colorado was reduced to 10 men in the 86th minute, as Danny Earls was red carded for a late tackle on Ubiparipovic.

New York reached the final round of MLS qualifying for the Open Cup Wednesday after defeating the Philadelphia Union, 2-1, on April 27 and the New England Revolution, 3-0, on May 12.

With this loss, Rapids are eliminated from the Open Cup play-in game for the third consecutive year.

Colorado returns to Dicks Sporting Goods Park on May 29 to host the Seattle Sounders at 7pm.